Complaints over Shah Alam open burning, land clearing draw a blank

 

The open burning and land clearing in Seksyen 25, Shah Alam.

PETALING JAYA: Rampant land clearing and open burning at Seksyen 25, Shah Alam, without action being taken by the authorities, has angered at least one resident who wants answers.

David (not his real name) told FMT that someone started clearing and burning an area between an Indah Water water treatment pond and the Klang River a month ago.

There are no signboards to indicate why the land, belonging to the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), is being cleared.

David said the land clearing was going on everyday and that residents in his apartment complex have had to put up with the noisy excavator, a loud generator used to siphon water from the water treatment pond, and smoke from the open burning.

It is more troubling, he said, because most of the residents are now working from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic and movement restrictions.

David wanted to know if those working on the land had the approvals to do so, including a permit to operate during the lockdown and another from Indah Water to siphon water from the treatment pond.

Smoke rises from the open burning.

He said he had highlighted the issue to MBSA through its Twitter account and its website, calling its complaint hotline and visiting its headquarters at Shah Alam and its branch at Kota Kemuning, all to no avail.

“I am beginning to sense that something is amiss as MBSA is completely silent. It could have easily replied to my tweets since it is quite active on Twitter,” he told FMT.

“Even if MBSA has to investigate the complaint, it should not take this long to revert to me.”

Apart from the numerous complaints to MBSA, he said, he had complained to the Selangor Department of Environment (JASS) and the Fire and Rescue Department. After authorities put out a fire and sealed the area in April, the fires resumed over the past month.

David said a JASS official informed him that a farmer was burning undergrowth in the area for illegal farming activities and that the department had put up banners forbidding open burning.

“Despite the banners, they are still carrying out illegal burning every day,” said David. “Since this is occurring every day, it would not be that difficult to apprehend them and ensure that they face the law.”

JASS director Nor Aziah Jaafar told FMT her department had started an investigation into the open burning in March.

However, since the site was on the banks of the Klang River, the complaint had been referred to the Selangor Department of Irrigation and Drainage and MBSA for further action.

Asked to comment on David’s claims, an MBSA spokesman said the council would look into the matter. - FMT